Beam and column connection



Jan. 21, 1930. A. J. wlLcox 1,744,600

BEAM AND COLUMN CONNECTION Filed July 12, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 21, 1930. J, w cox 1,744,600

BEAM AND COLUMN CONNECTION Filed July 12, 1927 2 Shuts-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WITNESSES $444M .gfi lberl fWiZcoz WW Ma ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 21, 1930 UNITED STATES ALBERT J'. WILCOX, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BEAM AND COLUMN CONNECTION Application filed July 12, 1927. Serial No. 205,157.

The present invention is concerned with improvements in beam and column connections of the character employed in connection with structural steel work.

An object of the invention is to provide a method of connecting beams to columns or beams to beams, which will be considerably less expensive than the methods heretofore employed. Such economy is effected primarily by the provision of a construction in which practically all of the rivetin may be done in the shop rather than on the field, and the operation of completing the connections on the job involves the use of simply a few rivets.

In view of the fact that the ordinary shop rivets costs about 5c to emplace, and the usual cost on the field is about 30 per rivet, it will be apparent that material economy is effected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a beam and column connection so designed that when wind-bracing is required, the number of rivets necessary to form the connection is greatly minimized.

Other and further objects of the invention are to provide a connection which will be simple, rugged and durable, and a connection which can be completed expeditiously.

lVith the above noted and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements ofparts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forthand pointed out in the claims. The invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a view taken in transverse section through a beam and showing in side elevation a column together with'the connecting means for the beam and column, this view being taken approximately on the line l-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a modification.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a further modification, and a construction in which wind-bracing is unnecessary.

Fig. is a similar view illustrating a still further modification.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating the invention applied to the connection of two beams.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view similar to Fi 8, illustrating slight modification of the construction of Fig. 8.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, l have used the reference numeral 10 to designate one of the side plates of a vertical Hrolumn, the cross web of which is indicated at 11. A. horizontal I-beam 12 is to be connected to the column in such a manner that the connection will not only withstand compressive stresses, but will be braced against lateral wind stresses.

Instead of using the usual heavy angle shapes, a combination of angles and plates or pieces of I-beams or channels, with the usual variation in the location of the field and shop rivets for a wind bracing connection, I employ an upper T-shaped, member 18 and a lower T-shaped member .14, the heads of the Ts lying against the face of the column 11 and being preferably riveted thereto in the shop by the use of rivets such as 15, passed through the head flanges at opposite sides of the leg 16 similar to the practice now in use where pieces of I-beams are used. For the support of the vertical load in place of the usual angle shapes now in use, I employ a T-shaped member 18, the leg of which is connected to the web of the beam by such rivets as 19 and the lower edge of the, head is adapted to seat at 17 on the edge of the upper flange of the above mentioned lower T-shaped member 14, the upper edge 17 of the upper flange of 14 being made preferably with a fiat surface to form a seat for the head of member 18. By this connection the rivets through the flanges of member 14 into the column 11 are used both for carrying the vertical load into the column and also to transmit the horizontal wind stresses into the column, thereby eliminating all or nearly all the usual rivets carrying the vertical load from the above mentioned angles directly into the column.

The legs 16 of the T-shaped members 13 and 14 straddle the flanges of the I-beam 12 and are riveted thereto at 20. The rivets 20 in the present instance are the only rivets of the entire construction which it is necessary to emplace on the field.

By virtue of this construction, compressive stresses are transmitted from the beam to the column directly through the member 18 and the surface 17 and the attachment of the T-legs 16 to the beam flanges provide an efficient wind-bracing connection. This connection effectively resists lateral distorting strains on the column 11.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown a construction similar in most respects to the construction of Figs. 1 to 3. The essential difference is that I employ splice plates to overlie the legs 16 of the Ts 13 and 14 which are riveted at their outer ends to the beam flanges by rivets 26, and at their inner ends to the beam flanges through the legs 16 by rivets 27. If desired, a splice plate 28 may also overlie the lower flange of the T-shaped member 14, being riveted through this flange to the column at 29 and below the flange riveted directly to the column at 30.

WVith this construction also, field riveting is for the most part eliminated, the only field rivets necessary being those used in the attachment of the splice plates 25. These splice plates of course strengthen the construction as will be understood, and permit the use of somewhat lighter Ts 13 and 14.

By the use of these splice plates the strength of this construction can be varied with the use of the same T shaped members 13 and 14 which would be expensive to manufacture in a variety to meet the various strengths required. Another essential advantage of these splice plates 25 is that if the legs 16 of members 13 and 14 were made in long lengths, it would be most difficult to enter the beam between them in the field, also during transporting from the shop to the field and during erection long outstanding legs 16 would become bent and would be very difficult to straighten out.

In Fig. 6, I have shown a construction embodying the principle of Fig. 1, but where the problems of wind-bracing is not encountered. Here, instead of the upper T 13, I simply employ an angle iron 31 riveted at 32 and 33 to the column and beam flange respectively. In this figure, I have also illustrated a variation in the proportions of the lower T 14 having formed it with a relatively long lower leg 14 riveted at 34 to the beam and with an extremely short upper leg through which no rivets need be passed. Obviously, a great.

many variations might be made in the exact proportions of the elements used in forming the coupling or connection in accordance with the particular problems encountered in different kinds of work.

The showing of Fig. 7 is quite similar to the showing of Fig. 6, except that the lower T 14 is riveted at both sides of the leg 16, and as in Fig. 6, the leg 16 is considerably shorter than the corresponding leg in the constructions of Figs. 1 and 4. The essential diflerence however, between the disclosure of Figs. 6 and 7 is the fact that the T-plate carried by the end of the beam, is disposed at an angle relatively to the main transverse axis of the beam, so that the beam may be rotated into place; the angular face of the T, permitting such rocking action. It will be noted that in all forms of the invention, the rivets which carry the brunt of compressive stresses do not connect the beam to the column, thereby permitting these rivets to be driven in the shop; instead, the T which is carried by the beams simply rests on the upper surface of the lower T of the column and transmits stresses therethrough.

The upper angle is put on in the field after the beam has been rotated into place.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a similar principle embodied in the connection of two beams instead of a beam and columns. Here, the web of one beam carries a T-shaped member 41, the head of which is riveted at 42 to the web. The abutting beam 43 carries a T-shaped member 44, the head of which rests on the edge surface 45 of the upper flange of the T-head 41. Incidentally, the head of the T 44 may be bolted through the web 40 if desired, as indicated at 46.

The showing of Fig. 9 is similar to that of Fig. 8, except that the T 41 is replaced by a member of general wedge shape bolted to one beam flange and supporting the edge of the T carried by the abutting beam end. In the matter of beam connections, the windbracing problems are not encountered.

I have shown the invention in several of its embodiments simply for illustrative purposes, and obviously various other and further changes might be made in the structural details without in any way departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a connection of the class described, a steel beam and a supporting member to which the end of the beam is adapted to be secured, a T shaped member, the leg of which is secured to the beam and the head of which is disposed beyond the end of the beam, and means rigidly secured to the face of the support upon which the edge of the T head is adapted to seat.

2. In a connection of the class described, a steel beam and a supporting member to which the end of the beam is adapted to be secured, a T shaped member, the leg of which is secured to the beam and the head of which is disposed beyond the end of the beam, and means rigidly secured to the face of the support upon which the edge of the T head is adapted to seat, the T being disposed at an angle relatively to the transverse aXis of the beam whereby the beam may be rotated into position to seat the T.

3. In a connection of the class described, a steel beam and a supporting member to which the end of the beam is adapted to be secured, a T shaped member, the leg of which is secured to the beam and the head of which is disposed beyond the end of the beam, and means rigidly secured to the support upon which the edge of the T head is adapted to seat, said means comprising a second generally T-shaped member, the head of which is riveted to the support, and upon the edge of which head the first T, seats.

4. In a connection of the class described, a steel beam and a supporting member to which the end of the beam is adapted to be secured, a T-shaped member, the leg of which is secured to the beam and the head of which is disposed beyond the end of the beam, and means rigidly secured to the support upon which the edge or" the T head is adapted to seat, said means comprising a second generally T-shaped member, the head of which is riveted to the support, and upon the edge of which head the first T, seats, the leg of the lower T bein riveted to the flange of the beam.

5. A column and an I beam adapted to be secured thereto, spaced T members, the heads of which are riveted to the column and the legs of which straddle the beam, a third T member the leg of which is riveted to the beam web and the head of which fits between the first T heads and rests on the lower one.

6. A column and an I beam adapted to be secured thereto, spaced T members, the heads of which are riveted to the column and the legs of which straddle the beam, a third T member the leg of which is riveted to the beam web and the head of which fits between the first T heads and rests on the lower one, and rivets connecting the legs of the first TS to the beam flanges to brace the column against wind stresses.

7. In a connection of the class described, a steel beam and a supporting member to which the end of the beam is adapted to be secured, a T shaped member, the leg of which is secured to the beam and the head of which is disposed beyond the end of the beam, means rigidly secured to the support upon which the edge of the T head is adapted to seat, and wind-bracing means coupling the support to the upper flange of the beam.

8. In a connection of the class described,

' a steel beam and a supporting member to which the end of the beam is adapted to be secured, a T shaped member, the leg of which is secured to the beam and the head of which is disposed beyond the end of the beam, means rigidly secured to the support upon which the edge of the T head'is adapted to seat, said means comprising a second generally T-shaped member, the head of which is riveted to the support, and upon the edge of which head the first T, seats; and a windbracing means secured to the support above the second T and adapted to be secured to the top of the beam.

9. As a new article of manufacture, a T for connecting a beam to a column, the head and the stem adapted for direct connection to the flanges of the beam and column, one side of the head being in extent sufficient to provide a support for a projecting member extending from the end of the web of said beam.

ALBERT J. WVILCOX. 

